Linksys WRT54GL Default Password

Type 'admin' for the WRT54GL default password

By
Tim Fisher
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Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University
Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.
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Updated on August 7, 2023

What to Know

  • The Linksys WRT54GL default password is admin. There is no default username.
  • The default IP address is 192.168.1.1.
  • Reset the router to restore these default login details if they don't work for you.

This article includes the default login details for the Linksys WRT54GL router. It also describes how to reset the router if the default password doesn't work.

Linksys WRT54GL Router Default Login Information

Both versions of the Linksys WRT54GL router use the default password admin, and it's case-sensitive, which means it should be entered with no uppercase letters. This router doesn't have a default username, so when asked for it, leave that field blank.

Use the IP address 192.168.1.1 to access the router through a web browser. This is where you type the password so you can log in and make changes to the router's settings. This particular address is used with most Linksys routers.

This router comes in two hardware versions — 1.0 and 1.1 — and both use the same IP address, username, and password. Don't mix up this router with the Linksys WRT54G or WRT54G2, because between those routers are several other hardware versions.

Help! The WRT54GL Default Password Doesn't Work!

If the default password for your Linksys WRT54GL doesn't work, it most likely just means that it's been changed from admin to something more secure (which is a good thing). To restore the custom password to the default password, reset the router to its factory default settings.

To reset the WRT54GL router:

  1. Turn the router around so you can see the back where the antennas and cables are plugged in.

    Backside of Linksys WRT54GL Router
    Linksys

  2. Make sure the power cable is firmly plugged in.

  3. Press and hold the Reset button for 5 seconds. Use a paperclip or something that's small enough to fit in the hole

    The Reset button is on the left side of the back of the WRT54GL, near the Internet plug.

  4. Release the Reset button, then wait 30 seconds for the router to reset.

  5. Unplug the power cable for a few seconds, then plug it back in.

  6. Wait for 30 to 60 seconds for the router to fully boot up.

  7. Access the WRT54GL router through a web browser at the default IP address: http://192.168.1.1. Since the password has been reset, enter admin to log in.

Important Next Steps

Don't forget to change the router password now that it's back at the default, which isn't secure at all. Store the new password in a password manager if you're concerned that you'll forget it again. That's especially helpful if you've created a strong password, which I strongly recommend.

Also, re-enable the wireless internet and other custom settings like DNS servers, re-enter that information. Resetting the router doesn't only remove the password, but also any custom changes you've made to it.

After you've made any wanted changes, back up the router configuration so that you can restore those changes in the future if you ever have to reset the router again. You can learn how to do this on Page 21 of the user manual (there's a link to the manual below).

What to Do When You Can't Access the Router

By default, you should be able to access the WRT54GL router through the http://192.168.1.1 address. If not, it just means that it's been changed since the router was first set up.

All you need to find the router IP address is the default gateway of a computer that's currently connected to the router. You don't have to reset the whole router like you do when the password is lost (however, if you do reset the router, the default IP address is restored, too).

See How to Find Your Default Gateway IP Address if you need help doing this in Windows. The IP address you find there is the one to enter in the web browser URL bar to access the router.

Linksys WRT54GL Firmware & Manual Links

Visit the WRT54GL support page on the Linksys website to find the user manual (a downloadable PDF file), FAQs, and other information on this router.

Downloads, like firmware and computer software related to the router, can be reached from the Linksys WRT54GL Downloads page.

Make sure the hardware version number of the firmware you download is the same as the hardware version written on the router. You can find this on the bottom of the router, next to the model number.

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